Premier League: Everton draw should see Swans preserve home record

Swansea City return to comfortable home pastures, having dropped Premier League points on the road to Watford last time out to spoil their unbeaten run, as 5/4 favourites for victory with Coral against visiting Everton.

While Garry Monk’s men are yet to notch a triumph on their travels, halting the Swans’ 100 per cent record at home across all competitions should prove a tough task for the Toffees.

Recent meetings between the two have been tight, with both of last term’s tussles ending on even terms, so punters can back a third draw in a row at an excellent 12/5 price.

Having said that, the hosts’ historical head-to-head record is far from favourable, as the Swans have sank Everton just the once, with the Merseysiders coming out on top 15 times in 23 scuffles, which makes them 23/10 to win once more.

“Everton are much more established in this league and the history of the club is a lot bigger than ours, but they are a club we are competing with,” Monk told press ahead of the encounter.

“If we can finish above them or there or thereabouts, you know we’ve had a good season. I think they will be benchmark for where we are trying to get,” added the Englishman, who served under current Everton coach Roberto Martinez at Swansea between 2007 and 2009.

Monk certainly has plenty of ambitious attackers at his disposal in French frontman Bafetimbi Gomis (11/2 to open the scoring), who has been in prolific form with four strikes in five league fixtures, and goal hungry Ghanaian Andre Ayew (a superb 7/4 in the anytime market).

As for former Liberty Stadium boss Martinez, his Merseyside men will arrive in Wales buoyed by a fantastic 3-1 victory against Premier League champions Chelsea.

The Catalan coach was full of praise for former charge Monk, stating: “First he had to stabilise a team and give them direction to avoid relegation at the end of a season in Europe that was very challenging, then they achieved the best ever Premier League finish…for me Garry Monk is doing a very, very impressive job.”

Seemingly back to themselves, the Toffees will be targeting all three points on their travels and are 15/2 to rack-up three or more again.

Scotland international Steven Naismith was the hat-trick hero last time out and is 15/8 in the anytime market, or 6/1 to fire in first, while fellow forward Romelu Lukaku is the same price to poach last. Ross Barkley has also proven to be a threat from midfield and is 5/1 to ruffle the Swans’ feathers with a strike anytime.

Betting tip: Odds of 12/5 for a third draw in a row between Swansea and Everton could prove fruitful.